Freedom from Fear?

One of FDR's four freedoms that he said were to be achieved through the defeat of Germany was a "freedom from fear," and yet this period following WWII, the Cold War, was a time characterized by fear. Fear that was usually either unfounded or blown grossly out of proportion. There was fear among world leaders: Truman's administration kept the Soviets from majorly occupying Japan and resisted their interference in Korea. Churchill warned of the Soviets' dislike towards weakness and the resulting need to take a strong stance against them. Non-communist parties in Europe and America feared the spread of communism around Soviet borders. The time was also categorized by fear else where: American people saw soviet spies everywhere and speaking against the government was an action viewed as Soviet sympathizing or supporting. Even Acheson, an American politician, played on American fear of the Soviet Union to reach his political desires, saying there was "only one way" to get what he wanted and that was to "make a personal appearance before Congress and scare the hell out of the American people." This time was so totally characterized by fear and intimidation that even U.S. officials were willing to use this fear.